Venezuelan Churches Step In as Earthquake Death Toll Tops 1,400
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, killing more than 1,400 people and leaving 250,000 homeless. Christian organizations including Samaritan's Purse, Send Relief, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have deployed teams to provide food, water, medical care, and shelter.
Two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The first measured 7.2 in magnitude; the second, 7.5. Together they killed more than 1,400 people and left roughly 250,000 homeless. The states of La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, Falcon, and Miranda were among the hardest hit, with hundreds of buildings partially or fully collapsed.
Christian organizations moved quickly to fill gaps left by an overwhelmed government response.
Samaritan's Purse deployed teams to provide medical care and clean water. The organization airlifted an emergency field hospital along with shelter tarps and other supplies.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributed approximately 5,000 assistance kits containing food, drinking water, and hygiene supplies, reaching more than 23,500 people. Some of the church's meetinghouses became collection centers for community aid.
Send Relief partnered with the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela to empower local churches as immediate points of refuge and aid distribution. Catholic Relief Services provided food, health services, and emergency shelter through Caritas. Aid to the Church in Need reported that about 30 historic churches sustained damage and is supporting local parishes.
Convoy of Hope also deployed teams to the hardest-hit regions.
Evangelical alliances from Latin America, including the Latin Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelical Alliance of Guatemala, issued statements of solidarity and called for global prayer. Local pastors said their congregations are serving as places of refuge and hope as communities begin the long recovery.
